Fort Lincoln (Bourbon County, Kansas (15 miles northwest of Fort Scott), Kansas)
Bourbon County, Kansas (15 miles northwest of Fort Scott) · Kansas · Civil War
History & Significance
Fort Lincoln was established by U.S. Senator James Lane on August 24, 1861, shortly after he reestablished Fort Scott as a military post. With Confederate General Sterling Price threatening the reopened post, Lane relocated approximately 1,200 troops, most citizens of Fort Scott, and Missouri refugees to a point 15 miles northwest.
The fort was built on low ground north of the Little Osage River and named for President Abraham Lincoln. Lane faced criticism for selecting such a vulnerable site—difficult to observe approaching enemies and prone to flooding during heavy rains.
The post, also known as Fort Osaga and Fort Fulton, served as a prison and border defense during the Civil War and consisted of a small stockade and blockhouse. After the immediate threat to Fort Scott diminished in September 1861, Lane withdrew most troops, leaving about 300.
In 1862, his force disbanded and the post fell under occupation by black Union soldiers, who guarded it as a prisoner of war camp. White troops replaced them in April 1863.
Between May and August 1863 the military abandoned Fort Lincoln. Afterward, settler George Walrod and his family moved into the fort, maintaining it as a one-man garrison.
In 1864, a large log blockhouse was removed and relocated to Fort Scott at the intersection of Lowman and First streets. The town of Fort Lincoln eventually disappeared.
Key Facts
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lincoln_(Kansas)
- https://www.kansashistory.gov/kansapedia/bourbon-county-kansas/15284
- https://www.kansashistory.gov/index.php?url=archives/40668
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Lincoln_blockhouse
- https://legendsofkansas.com/bourbon-county-civil-war/
- https://www.kspatriot.org/index.php/articles/18-kansas-military-history/458-forts-in-early-kansas.html